Thanks to our founding fathers, our country is built on a foundation of democracy and a set of freedoms. Because of this, people like you and I have the right to be writing articles such as this one! The First Amendment to our American Constitution gives us some of our most important freedoms; speech, assembly, religion, petition, and press. This allows the voices of the American people to be heard, read, seen, and listened to without backlash (when done constitutionally, of course.) The Eight Values of Free Expression delve into these rights more deeply and explain why they are so valued in our country and how they contribute to who we are as a society.
To me, the most important value is the right to Protect Dissent. This value is important because it emphasizes how citizens have a strongly protected right to disagree with anyone that they please, as well as the government. It is encouraged to criticize the government; as it is viewed as a “patriotic duty.” I believe this to be the most important because this is where our voices will be heard. In most societies, questioning the government would result in a fine, jail time, or even death. Having not only the right but the encouragement to challenge our leaders with our needs and concerns is what makes the ideology of the “American Dream” so fascinating. Having this relationship with our government builds a bond between our leaders and our people- a sense of trust, stability, and safety is instilled knowing that we have the opportunity to coexist with a balance of power.
The value that resonates most with me that I find to be most personal is the value to promote innovation. Having open conversations on topics like sexuality, art, creativity, business, music, gender orientation, religion, and culture cultivates a more diverse and ever-growing society. Being able to express who you truly are through your social media posts, writing, apparel, movements, etc. awakens the spirit in people to become more open-minded and accepting. Together as a society in 2022, I think we have come so far in the past ten years alone about acceptance and expression. Celebrating pride month with parades, holding TedTalks about business goals and personal issues, posting mental health awareness on social media, and giving speeches about sexual assault are all dynamic ways that we can use our First Amendment freedoms to our positive advantage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucmf4Epl0SI The value I see in action most today would be stable change. The 2016 presidential election divided our country more than it ever had been before. The overturn of Roe v Wade caused an uproar among men and women across the nation. The BLM movement raised protests from ear to ear in the country. When angered people are not allowed to ask why, react, or challenge their government, it often turns to a violent overthrow or an attempt at war. However, when those affected exercise their rights to speak freely, assemble, petition, print, and pray, it leaves room for a more peaceful outcome. Keeping a “stable change” means maintaining control of those angered and allowing them to channel their anger in a way that avoids violence. It also makes it easier to monitor potentially dangerous groups who try to act secretively with bad intentions. It is in the government's best self-interest to allow its people to “vent” instead of pushing them away. Our usage of social media platforms to make our voices heard is one of the greatest ways the American people can reach one another. This theory explains how word gets around so quickly and why our society is everchanging.
Thanks for grabbing a cup o’ Joe with me here at CoffeewithCarmela and for taking the time to be present while we get a better understanding of our freedoms and how they are put into action in our everyday lives!
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